2013 Stratford and Shaw Festival Theatre Previews
Thoughts on the Stratford
Shakespeare Festival/Shaw Festival 2013 Seasons
By David Grapes – Arts
Journalist
March, 2013
Theatre patrons, who are
passionate about quality theatre here in the U.S., should consider a trip North
across the Canadian border into Ontario and spend some serious time exploring
North America’s two largest theatre festivals – The Stratford Shakespeare
Festival and The Shaw Festival. The American dollar appears to have stabilized
against the Canadian dollar, so the entertainment value when compared to the
costs of theatre tickets for Broadway ($150+ average) or in London is high. And
if you search the web, there are some excellent airfare deals for the upcoming
summer into Toronto’s Lester B. Pearson airport for about $450.00 to $700.00
from most major US airports. Rental cars are readily available at the Toronto
airport. (Try Hotwire.com for the best airport rental rates) Driving time from
the airport to either of the two festivals is less than two hours on four lane
highways. Remember – Passports are now REQUIRED for any border crossing!
The Shaw Festival
Located in historic Niagara
on the Lake (30 miles North of Buffalo 120 Miles South of Toronto) along the
beautiful Lake Ontario shoreline The Shaw Festival is the only theatre in the
world that specializes exclusively in plays by George Bernard Shaw and his
contemporaries. During the last three decades, under the artful and highly
creative leadership of Christopher Newton and Jackie Maxwell, the Shaw not only
earned a reputation for innovative programming, stunning visuals, but also
become home to one of the finest acting ensembles in North America.
Director Maxwell continues
to produce excellent work as she explores the Festival’s expanded artistic
mandate, which now includes newer Broadway musicals (The Light in the Piazza
and Guys & Dolls) and modern classics (Arcadia). While some in the Canadian theatrical
community have criticized her for being overly fixated on female directors and
playwrights, she continues to fill most of the seats, balance the books and
produce many great nights in the theatre.
As the Shaw Festival
celebrates its 53rd season this year audiences will be in for some real treats
including: a large production of the popular American musical Guys & Dolls
featuring Thom Allison who gave us a brilliant performance in Ragtime last
season, Enchanted April and Major Barbara from Maxwell, an allstar production
of Brian Friel’s The Faith Healer featuring Jim Mezon, Corrine Koslo and Peter
Krantz, Canadian Playwright John Murrell’s adaptation of Shaw’s Geneva (now
titled Peace in Our Time: A Comedy), and W. Sommerset Maugham’s Our Betters and
Oscar Wilde’s brilliant satire of Victorian morals Lady Windermere’s Fan.
Another exciting development
over the past five years has been addition of an intimate fourth performance
venue – The Studio Theatre (which will seat 176 patrons). The new facility has
hosted such diverse productions as John Osborne’s The Entertainer starring
Benedict Campbell, Caryl Churchill’s provocative contemporary play Serious
Money, When the Rains Stops Falling, Topdog/Underdog and Helen’s Necklace. This
year the Studio Theatre will host Tom Stoppard’s Arcadia which is rather a
mystery wrapped in a love story and enjoyed a successful Broadway revival last
year in New York City.
SHAW SEASON AT A GLANCE
Festival Theatre
Guys & Dolls – April 12 to October 12
Lady Windermere’s Fan – May 9
to October 19
Enchanted April – June 25 to
October 26
Royal George Theatre
Our Bettors – April 3 to
October 27
Major Barbara – May 2 to October
19
Faith Healer – June 13 to
October 6
Court House Theatre
Peace in Our Time: A Comedy –
May 19 to October 12
The Light in the Piazza – July
4 to October 13
Trifles – May 29 to October
12
Studio Theatre
Arcadia – July 14 to September
7
David’s recommendations for the 2013 season
Patty Jamieson in Light in
the Piazza in Ragtime (Directed by Jay Turvey)
Nicole Underhay and Benedict
Campbell in Major Barbara (Directed by Jackie Maxwell)
Jim Mezon, Corrine Koslo and
Peter Krantz in The Faith Healer (Directed by Craig Hall)
Moya O’Connell and Tara
Rosling in Enchanted April (Directed by Jackie Maxwell)
ALSO OF INTEREST AT OR NEAR THE SHAW FESTIVAL
Contemporary Play Reading
Series
Educational Seminars,
Workshops and Symposiums
Summer Camps
Teacher Days
Niagara Falls
Old Fort Erie/ Old Fort
Niagara
Wine country excursions
Lake activities
PLAY INFORMATION
TICKET PRICES
Range from $24.00 can (student matinees) to $110.00 can (weekends and openings)
Rush seats are available day of show
$30 rate for patrons under 30 years of age at any theatre
There are also excellent student discounts and group rates
available
BOX OFFICE
1-800-511-7429
ACCOMODATIONS
NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE CHAMBER of COMMERCE RESERVATION SERVICE (CCA) 905-468-1950. In the Court House on Queen Street, Box 1043, Niagara-on-the-Lake L0S 1J0. www.niagaraonthelake.com Reservation service for 1700 plus rooms, representing every hotel and a collection of approved inns, cottages and bed-and-breakfast homes. For a quality experience, let our trained specialists help you select CCA (Chamber of Commerce Approved) accommodation. All price ranges represented.
NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE BED and BREAKFAST ASSOCIATION (BBA) 905-468-0123 or 1-866-855-0123. Box 1228, Niagara-on-the-Lake L0S 1J0. www.bba.notl.on.ca Members are identified by BBA in the listings. Call or visit our website for a free availability search or to book online. We maintain high standards and adhere to a code of ethics. Book with a member.
ABOUT HISTORIC BED and BREAKFASTS IN OLD TOWN CENTRE www.historicbb.com These private homes, built before 1850, are within 4 short blocks of a theatre, dining and shops. Visit our website or contact the following homes in the Bed and Breakfast section: Adam Lockhart’s Storrington House, Annette Twining House, Apple Tree Bed and Breakfast, Barrett Cottage, B&B’s “Pacific”, Blaney House, Burns House, Davy House, Regent House, The Rogers-Harrison House, Royal Manor, Saltbox 1820 Cottage, Schoolmaster’s House. Open year-round. Central air. Full breakfasts. Private parking. Smoke-free. All rooms have private ensuite bathrooms. $100-$195.
ACCOMMODATION ALTERNATIVES NIAGARA www.accommodationalternativesniagara.com A fine selection of licensed cottages, apartments and homes in Niagara, suitable to those who prefer privacy and self-catering accommodations. Nightly from $120, weekly from $750.
Check this BLOG in August for reviews of many of the 2013 Shaw Festival productions.
The Stratford Festival
Located in the bucolic hills
of Southern Ontario in the working class town of Stratford, The Stratford
Festival has grown from its humble beginnings in 1953 (two Shakespearean plays
produced in a tent) to one of the largest and most respected theatre festivals
in the world, now under the capable leadership of Antoni Cimolino.
Having completed of a 50
million dollar capital and endowment drive, long time patrons now enjoy
improvements at all four of the Festival’s theatre venues, upgraded electronic
services, and enhanced production quality on stage. Exciting indeed has been the addition of a
fourth stage known as the Studio Theatre located above the Avon Theatre. This
small flexible space, which opened four years ago, is now home to new work by
Canadian playwrights, workshops, productions, and for the first time in its
short history – Shakespeare. However,
the Studio Theatre only seats 260 patrons, so if you want to see a popular
production in the Studio Theatre, you need to purchase your tickets well in
advance.
Variety has always been a
hallmark of the Stratford Festival, where works by Shakespeare, Marlowe,
Moliere and Ibsen share the stage with Broadway musicals and the comedies of
Noel Coward and although Shakespeare will not dominate the large Festival Stage
as he did three years ago, the Bard is still well represented and remains the
artistic heart of the festival. This year the festival will offer up Romeo and
Juliet, Othello, The Merchant of Venice and Measure for Measure. The 61stseason
will also feature a large scale American musical (Fiddler on the Roof) on the
Festival Stage while another popular Broadway musical (Tommy) takes up
residence at the Avon. While there are many who would like to see musicals
banned from the traditional repertoire - they continue to pay the bills. For
example, 2008’s banishment of a musical from the Festival Stage had a very
negative impact on Stratford’s bottom line.
There are many things to be
excited about for the 61st anniversary season including the return
of Brian Bedford to direct Blithe Spirit and star in the Merchant of Venice, an
all star cast for Mary Stuart under the direction of Cimolino, the return of
Scott Wentworth as Tevye in Fiddler and a Martha Henry production of Measure
for Measure at the Tom Patterson.
While the US dollar has
fluctuated in recent years against the Canadian dollar, this trip remains an
outstanding value. And the US dollar has shown some renewed this past year. With
Broadway prices soaring to $150-$300+ a ticket, it is hard to imagine that you
could get more “bang for your entertainment buck” anywhere in the world than in
Ontario, Canada.
STRATFORD SEASON AT A GLANCE
Festival Theatre
Romeo and Juliet – May 1 to
October 19
Fiddle on the Roof – April
23 to October 20
The Three Musketeers – May
18 to October 19
The Merchant of Venice – July
30 to October 18
Avon Theatre
Tommy – May 4 to October 19
Blithe Spirit – May 16 to October 20
Othello – August 4 to October
19
Tom Patterson Theatre
Measure for Measure - May 18
to September 21
Mary Stuart – May 3 to
September 21
Waiting for Godot – June 13
to September 20
Studio Theatre
Taking Shakespeare – July 13
to September 22
The Thrill – July 28 to
September 22
David’s recommendations for the 2013 season
Lucy Peacock and Seana McKenna
in Mary Stuart (directed by Antoni
Cimolino)
Fiddler on the Roof
(starring Scott Wentworth)
Merchant of Venice (starring
Brian Bedford) (directed by Antoni Cimolino)
The Thrill (new Canadian
play starring Lucy peacock)
Measure for Measure (directed by Martha Henry)
ALSO OF INTEREST AT STRATFORD
Late Night with Lucy (cabaret with Lucy Peacock)
Family Series Events
Stageside Chats
Festival Tours
Celebrated Writers Series
Night Music – Special
concerts each Monday evening June to August in the Festival Theatre
A wide assortment of
classes, workshops, special events.
PLAY INFORMATION
www.stratfordfestival.ca
TICKET PRICES
Range from $20.00 to $135.00 (Canadian $)
Rush seats are available day of show
There are also excellent student discounts and group rates
available
BOX OFFICE
1-800-567-1600
ACCOMODATIONS
1-800-567-1600
I recommend the Swan Motel
(Downie Street South)
E-mail: info@swanmotel.ca
David Grapes has been a theatre producer/director/playwright and freelance theatre journalist for over thirty years. He holds a BA in Theatre from Glenville State College and an MFA in Acting/Directing from the University on North Carolina at Greensboro.
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